Haircut, Korean Style

After a few days of spending 10 minutes trying to towel-dry my hair, I realized that it was getting rather shaggy. I decided it was time to bite the bullet, wander next door to the mall, and get a haircut. This, of course, was a frightening proposition. After all, I doubted that the stylists would understand "I'd like to take about an inch off, and the back needs to be cleaned up quite a bit. Can you do a razor cut?" Additionally, judging from the kids in my class, I was in danger of ending up with bangs down to my chin or ludicrous fake sideburns. Or, God forbid, a bouffant like the Dear Leader.

With some trepidation, I entered the classier looking of the two salons in the mall. After making my needs clear to the receptionist ("Cut?" Head nod. Sorted.) I went to the couch to wait. At this point, I was kicking myself for once again forgetting to bring reading material. Fashion magazines are bad enough at an American salon, but they are even worse when they are unintelligible ("Did you SEE what 이수진 was wearing? WhatEVER!"). They did give me complimentary orange juice, and in my sickly state, this was most welcome. The receptionist also passed me a binder with a collection of different magazine clippings, and while it did indeed include plenty of long bangs and faux-sideburns, I found a picture of a Korean chap with a haircut that roughly approximated what I was looking for.

After a bit a man led me to a chair, placed a towel around my neck, and threw a protective cape around me. Then, a woman came over and tried to interpret my directions. She asked, "Short?" and I dared not answer in the affirmative for fear of ending up with a buzz cut. Instead, I grabbed the binder and spoke in the international language of Pointing. She nodded and then went at my hair with absolute fury. It was the most efficient haircut I've ever received. No "Hi James, I'm _____" or "what do you do?" Just machine-like speed and precision. And I didn't even lose an ear. When she finished, the man came back and led me to the shampooing area. Usually in the States you get the shampoo before the cut, but I actually prefer it the other way around, as you're not scratching at irritating loose hairs for the rest of the day. A quick application of wax and I was on my way, looking quite dapper if I do say so myself.

The cost? ₩ 8,000, or about $6.00 at current exchange rates. I love Korea.